New Guinea Impatiens plant named ‘Duepetmgo’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Impatiens plant named ‘Duepetmgo’ characterized by its compact, upright, outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; dark green-colored leaves; freely and early flowering habit; pink and orange red bi-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Impatiens hawkeri.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DUEPETMGO’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of New Guinea Impatiens plant, botanically known as Impatiens hawkeri and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Duepetmgo’.

The new Impatiens plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventors in Koka, Ethiopia and Rheinberg, Germany. The objective of the breeding program is to create new early and freely flowering New Guinea Impatiens plants with attractive flowers and good garden performance.

The new Impatiens plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventors in November, 2011 in Koka, Ethiopia of a proprietary selection of Impatiens hawkeri identified as code number NN07-005967-004, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Impatiens hawkeri identified as code number NN-1118, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Impatiens plant was discovered and selected by the Inventors as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germany in April, 2012.

Asexual reproduction of the new Impatiens plant by terminal vegetative cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germany since June, 2012 has shown that the unique features of this new Impatiens plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Impatiens have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature, daylight and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Duepetmgo’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Duepetmgo’ as a new and distinct Impatiens plant:

-   -   1. Compact, upright, outwardly spreading and mounding plant         habit.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching habit.     -   4. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   5. Freely and early flowering habit.     -   6. Pink and orange red bi-colored flowers.     -   7. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Impatiens can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Impatiens differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens are more compact than plants of         the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Impatiens and the female parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the female parent selection         have peach-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Impatiens can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Impatiens differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens are more compact than plants of         the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Impatiens have larger flowers than plants         of the male parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Impatiens and the male parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the male parent selection         have dark lavender pink and scarlet-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Impatiens can be compared to plants of Impatiens hawkeri ‘Duepetbs11’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,927. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Impatiens differ primarily from plants of ‘Duepetbs11’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens are more compact than plants of         ‘Duepetbs11’.     -   2. Plants of the new Impatiens have larger flowers than plants         of ‘Duepetbs11’.     -   3. Plants of the new Impatiens and ‘Duepetbs11’ differ in flower         color as plants of ‘Duepetbs11’ have red purple and red         bi-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Impatiens can be compared to plants of Impatiens hawkeri ‘Duemagpin’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,035. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Impatiens differ primarily from plants of ‘Duemagpin’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens are more compact than plants of         ‘Duemagpin’.     -   2. Plants of the new Impatiens and ‘Duemagpin’ differ in flower         color as plants of ‘Duemagpin’ have soft pink-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Impatiens plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Impatiens plant.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Duepetmgo’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the sheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Duepetmgo’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the summer and early autumn in 16.5-cm containers in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse in Encinitas, Calif. and under cultural practices typical of commercial New Guinea Impatiens production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 26° C., night temperatures averaged 18° C. and light levels ranged from 4,500 to 5,500 lux. Plants were 16 weeks old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Impatiens hawkeri ‘Duepetmgo’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Impatiens             hawkeri identified as code number NN07-005967-004, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Impatiens             hawkeri identified as code number NN-1118, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By terminal vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer and winter.—About five to             seven days at temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer and             winter.—About three to four weeks at temperatures about 20°             C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically white in color,             actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate             composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate             temperature and age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact, upright to outwardly             spreading and mounding plant habit; freely branching habit             with about six primary lateral branches each with about six             to eight secondary lateral branches developing per plant;             vigorous growth habit and moderate to rapid growth rate.         -   Height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 23 cm.         -   Height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 24 cm.         -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 58 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 23 cm.         -   Diameter, primary lateral branches.—About 1.7 cm.         -   Diameter, secondary lateral branches.—About 1.2 cm.         -   Internode length.—About 5 cm.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Aspect.—About 35° to 45° from vertical.         -   Texture and luster.—Smooth, glabrous; glossy.         -   Color, when developing and fully developed.—Close to 187A. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite or in whorls of four or five leaves;             simple.         -   Length.—About 9 cm.         -   Width.—About 3.5 cm.         -   Shape.—Elliptical.         -   Apex.—Acuminate.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Entire with ciliation.         -   Texture and luster, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous; matte             to slightly glossy.         -   Texture and luster, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous;             slightly glossy.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Darker than 146A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 183A. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Darker than 139A; venation,             close to 187C. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to 187C; venation, close to 187B.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 2.7 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Strength: Strong. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous; somewhat glossy. Color, upper surface: Close to             187C. Color, lower surface: Close to 187B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Large single rounded and             slightly cupped axillary flowers; freely flowering habit,             typically about 150 flowers develop per plant; flowers             positioned above and beyond the foliar plane; flowers             typically face mostly upright to outwardly.         -   Flower longevity.—Flowers typically last about two to three             days on the plant under greenhouse conditions; petals             self-cleaning, gynoecium persistent.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Year-round under greenhouse             conditions; in the garden, flowering from spring until fall             in California; early flowering habit, plants typically begin             flowering about ten weeks after planting.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 2.4 cm. Diameter: About 1.4 cm.             Shape: Ovate. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; slightly             glossy. Color: Close to 52A to 52B.         -   Flower diameter.—About 6 cm.         -   Flower depth.—About 3 cm; with spur, about 4.8 cm.         -   Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five per flower in a             single whorl. Banner petals, length: About 2.8 cm. Banner             petals, width: About 3.5 cm. Lateral petals, length: About             3.2 cm. Lateral petals, width: About 3.5 cm. Lower petals,             length: About 3.5 cm. Lower petals, width: About 3.7 cm.             Shape: Cordate. Apex: Emarginate. Base: Attenuate. Margin:             Entire; slightly undulate. Texture and luster, upper and             lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; velvety; matte. Color:             When opening, upper surface: Close to 51B to 51C. When             opening, lower surface: Close to 51A with tints of 50A.             Fully opened, upper surface: Ground color, close to 55B to             55C; V-shaped central bands, close to N30A to N30B; towards             the base, close to N66A; venation, close to 52A; color does             not change with development. Fully opened, lower surface:             Close to 50B to 50C; venation, close to 50A; color does not             change with development.         -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Three in a single whorl;             two lateral sepals and one center sepal modified into an             elongated spur. Lateral sepals, length: About 1.2 cm.             Lateral sepals, width: About 6 mm. Center sepals, length:             About 1.7 cm. Center sepals, width: About 1 cm. Shape:             Elliptical. Apex: Acuminate. Base: Truncate; center sepal             modified into a curved spur. Margin: Entire. Texture and             luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; slightly             glossy. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to 58B to             58D, darkest distally. When opening, lower surface: Ground             color, close to 58C; central band, close to 185C. Fully             opened, upper surface: Close to 58B to 58D, darkest             distally. Fully opened, lower surface: Ground color, close             to 185D; central band, close to 185B. Spur length: About             5.5 cm. Spur diameter: At the flower, about 2 mm. Spur             texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Spur             color: Close to 185A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 4.5 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Angle: About 45° to 55° from branch axis. Strength: Strong.             Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; somewhat glossy.             Color: Close to 185A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: Five fused at             anthers; filaments free. Filament length: About 1.5 mm.             Filament color: Close to 63A. Anther size: About 3 mm by             5 mm. Anther shape: Oblong. Anther color: Close to 63B.             Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 158B.             Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About             7 mm. Stigma diameter: About 1 mm. Stigma shape: Rounded.             Stigma color: Close to 185D. Style length: About 1 mm. Style             color: Close to 185D. Ovary color: Close to 187A.         -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit production has not been             observed on plants of the new Impatiens to date. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Impatiens have not     been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Impatiens plants to date. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Impatiens have been observed     to have good garden performance and tolerate temperatures ranging     from about 5° C. to about 40° C. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Impatiens plant named ‘Duepetmgo’ as illustrated and described. 